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Humphrey Spender

(1910-2005), Photographer, artist and designer

Sitter in 3 portraits
Artist of 15 portraits
Photojournalist and artist Humphrey Spender, brother of the writer Stephen Spender, made his reputation in the 1930s, taking photographs of housing conditions in London's East End. He travelled in Germany with Christopher Isherwood and designed the cover for Isherwood's book, Goodbye to Berlin (1939). Between 1937 and 1938, he worked for the Mass-Observation project, which aimed to record the lives of ordinary people. Spender took over 900 photographs in Bolton, a series called Worktown. He later joined the staff of Picture Post and served as an official photographer during the Second World War.

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Ben Nicholson, by Humphrey Spender - NPG P42

Ben Nicholson

by Humphrey Spender
bromide print, circa 1935
NPG P42

Tom Harnett Harrisson, by Humphrey Spender - NPG P960

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Humphrey Spender
modern archival bromide print, 1937
NPG P960

Barbara Ker-Seymer, by Humphrey Spender - NPG x36076

Barbara Ker-Seymer

by Humphrey Spender
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG x36076

Elisabeth Welch, by Humphrey Spender - NPG x131702

Elisabeth Welch

by Humphrey Spender
bromide print on card mount, June 1933
NPG x131702

Elisabeth Welch, by Humphrey Spender - NPG x14268

Elisabeth Welch

by Humphrey Spender
bromide print on card mount, June 1933
NPG x14268

Edward Wolfe, by Humphrey Spender - NPG x14269

Edward Wolfe

by Humphrey Spender
bromide print on card mount, 1936
NPG x14269

Frank Owen Dobson; Sir Edward Howard Marsh, by Humphrey Spender - NPG x14270

Frank Owen Dobson; Sir Edward Howard Marsh

by Humphrey Spender
modern bromide print from original negative, 1938
NPG x14270

Dame Ethel Walker, by Humphrey Spender - NPG x14267

Dame Ethel Walker

by Humphrey Spender
vintage bromide print, 1938
NPG x14267

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